Escaping the US won't be easy

  

Here's what you need to know as a start. 

Be prepared to leave when the military comes to your area immediately. Too many Jews thinking Germany would get better in the 1930s ended up dying in concentration camps. 

I'm not saying that the U.S. will be that extreme, but the military in U.S. cities is a frightening start. People being rounded up even when they are legal and deported without due process to places that they know nothing about is just one example. A photo of a two-year old with his hands being tied behind his back by an ICE soldier is horrible at best. Those held in detention are more often than not held in intolerable conditions according to those who were able to have a lawyer that was able to get them released. 

I don't think, I'm being paranoid, when I say, right now the U.S. is dangerous. Better to be prepared and not move than later not be able to move if borders are closed or the military take over more and more places.

Think of the move as long term. However, it is not as simple as just leaving and arriving elsewhere, getting a job and a place to live. It can be done, but prepare to run into many problems. It is easier if you have money such as the proceeds from selling your home or you inherited money from an unknown aunt. If you've lived paycheck to paycheck, the financial limitations can be daunting. 

What you will need and/or should check

• Passport(s). If you don't have one, get one. If you have a second make sure that one is up to date.
• Visas or forms for whatever country or countries where you might end up. Check with each consulate for what you need. It would be smart of have a backup country.
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Divorce certificate (if applicable)
• Copies of latest bank statements
• Copies of latest tax filing
• Arrangements for pets. Hopefully a friend will take them. Second choice a non-kill animal shelter. Check what your destination country's rule for pet entry.
• If you go to a Schengen country https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area as a tourist you can spend only 90 days out of 180. Andorra and Ireland is not in Schengen. There are people who have sat out the requirement in these countries. 
• Check out your destination in terms of health care, employment, etc.
• Would your current employer allow you to work from another country?
• Education for kids.
• Language requirements for long-term residency. 
• Credit cards/ATM cards. At the moment money can be transferred from U.S. financial institutions by ATM usually in small amounts. At the moment is allowing these transfers, but who is to say that will always be the case.
• Carrying money. $10,000 is usually the limit on money between borders without questions. You would need a destination bank, which as an American is hard to get. More than $10,000 a bank will want to know why. 

 It won't be easy

As Americans opening a bank account any where outside the US is difficult. Read up on FATCA. 

You will need a U.S. address to have a U.S. bank account. 

Finding work will be hard unless you have some special skill that is in demand.  Local citizens are usually first and in the case of the EU, EU people second then after then you might be considered. In many countries companies have to make sure you are more qualified than all local applicants.

Many companies will not hire Americans because of FATCA. That could put their banking arrangements in jeopardy and few are willing to do that.  

Finding a place to live can be difficult if you have no work.

Starting you own business needs capital and requirements for a local bank account almost impossible. Check the requirements for establishing a business in your destination country. 

Language requirements may include tests for proficiency for a long time visa. An Anglophone country might be easier.

Over staying in a country can mean deportation, heavy fines and being barred to re-eneter for different periods of time. 

Younger people may be able to get student visas. Tuition is relatively low or free in many places, and some countries allow students to work to help cover living expenses.   

If you think of all the things Americans have said about illegal immigrants, you may become an illegal immigrant in your destination country once you've overstayed. Your situation of escaping a violent society may be the same, and maybe you haven't walked miles and miles or been in a boat about to collapse at any moment, but you will still be an illegal no matter how desperate you were to leave the U.S.

For people who have traveled outside the U.S. or lived and worked in other countries, issues like integration, customs, language will be easier than those who have never been out of the U.S. or even far from home. Stores that close by law on Sundays will seem strange when in the U.S. 24/7 shopping is normal. And that's just one small thing. To make the transition permanent get with the program. Even after 35 years living abroad, I still am amazed at the snack bar who closed for lunch so their staff could eat with their families.